Maze Therapeutics Announces Initiation of Dosing in Phase 1 Trial Evaluating MZE829, a Novel Oral APOL1 Inhibitor, as a Potential Treatment for APOL1 Kidney Disease

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Maze Therapeutics, a company translating genetic insights into new precision medicines, today announced the initiation of dosing in the company’s Phase 1 trial of MZE829 in healthy volunteers. MZE829 is an oral, small molecule apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) inhibitor designed to block APOL1 pore function and ameliorate manifestations of APOL1 kidney disease.

“The start of this trial marks the second program identified through our Compass™ platform to enter clinical development—a testament to Maze’s ability to leverage the wealth of genetic and clinical data we have aggregated and analyzed to create better medicines for patients,” said Harold Bernstein, M.D., Ph.D., president, research and development, and chief medical officer of Maze. “This is also an important stepping stone in our strategy of bringing potentially disease-modifying treatments to people with common diseases – like kidney disease – using our genetically informed approach to drug discovery. Ultimately, we hope that this study will provide important first-in-human insights that allow us to expand evaluation of MZE829 in a broader chronic kidney disease population who have APOL1 kidney disease.”

APOL1 is a protein encoded by the APOL1 gene in humans. Genetic variants of the gene (G1 and G2) are associated with increased risk for a spectrum of progressive kidney diseases in the Black community. MZE829 was identified through insights generated with Maze’s proprietary, purpose-built platform, Maze Compass™. In preclinical studies, administration of Maze’s APOL1 inhibitor has been well tolerated and has led to amelioration of albuminuria in both chronic and acute humanized models of APOL1 kidney disease, with demonstrated improvement in the associated tissue pathology.

The Phase 1 trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, single and multiple ascending dose trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, food effect and potential drug interactions of orally administered MZE829 in healthy volunteers. Maze anticipates reporting data from the trial in the second half of 2024 to support advancement into the Phase 2 clinical program in patients.

About Maze Therapeutics

Maze Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company harnessing the power of human genetics to transform the lives of patients. The Company is committed to developing breakthrough precision medicines for common diseases with large unmet medical needs. Maze has developed Maze Compass™, a proprietary, purpose-built platform to leverage insights from genetic variation and integrate the critical step of variant functionalization into each stage of therapeutic development. Utilizing Maze Compass, the Company’s strategy is to develop its therapies independently, in collaboration with major pharmaceutical companies, and through company formation. For more information, please visit mazetx.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X. (formerly Twitter).